Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the food regulatory agency, today (8 November 2012) released what may become the final version of the proposed Health Claims Standard.

The document released today sets out in 127 pages a Review Report for Proposal P293 for Nutrition, Health and Related Claims in food. The document also contains a sixth version of the proposed Health Claims Standard 1.2.7 and amendments to Standard 1.2.8 concerning Nutrition Claims.

This document is now subject to approval by the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation (the “Food Forum”, formerly known as the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council).

Unlike five previous drafts of the Standard over the past decade, the proposed new Standard 1.2.7 permits not only pre-approved claims, but allows for self-substantiated health claims subject to numerous conditions.

Under the new Standards, eligibility criteria also need to be met for a food to qualify for the making of a health claim or a nutrition claim.

For further information, contact FoodLegal’s Joe Lederman or Charles Fisher.

Phone: (03) 9606 0022.

A copy of FSANZ Review Report can be found here.

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